Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 69, Benjamin Leonard, pages 66-67. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

In 1675 Isaac took part in the Narragansett Expedition during King Philip's War, and in 1733 his son IsaacLeonard of Bridgewater claimed a grant for his father's service.1

Land Records*

10 May 1677

On 10 May 1677 Samuel deeded land to his brother Isaac Leonard. Their brothers John, Jacob and Solomon were mentioned in the deed.4

(Father-Possible) Research Opinion

Considering all the "coincidences" which connect Bridgewater WilliamLeonard's activities with the Bridgewater Leonards (especially if, as this researcher believes, coincidence is truly "the messenger of truth") it is suggested at this point in our research that WilliamLeonard of Bridgewater was a descendant of SolomonLeonard of Bridgewater. Solomon's 4th son Isaac Leonard (c1650-c1717) and his wife DeliveranceAmes are the strongest and sadly, through a process of elimination, the only candidates currently being considered as William's parents.7,8

Land Records*

Isaac Leonard of Bridgewater and his wife Deliverance sold land with dwelling and barn in Bridgewater to SamuelChandler, also of Bridgewater. Their transaction was dated 29 February 1705/6, but likely should have been dated either 28 February or 01 March of that year.1

Residence*

27 March 1717

Isaac owned land in Mendon and Worcester and was of Bridgewater when he transferred Worcester land, his wife Deliverance consenting, on 27 March 1717. On 5 April 1717, their son BenjaminLeonard attested he saw Isaac sign the deed which was recorded on 10 December 1717.1

Land Transfer*

5 April 1717

On 5 April 1717, and acknowledged on 10 December 1717, Isaac Leonard gave his son JosephLeonard his homestead in Bridgewater, on the condition that Isaac have lifetime use.1

Family

The Chilton source positioned Deliverance as the probable daughter of Isaac Leonard and his wife Deliverance. The source noted, however, that no Plymouth County probate or land records were found to connect them1,2

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 18, Isaac Leonard, pages 23-24. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 4, Sarah Chandler, pages 8-9.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 18, Isaac Leonard, pages 23-24, stating possibly the daughter of William and Hannah Ames born Braintree 12 mo. 6th 1653.

Isaac Leonard Jr. of Bridgewater, Plymouth County, bought land in Taunton "North Purchase", Bristol County in 1702 although it is unclear when they moved there.6

Land Records*

1716

In 1716 Isaac Leonard of Taunton received rights in iron ore from his brother-in-law NathanielManley, also of Taunton.7

Land Records

1720

He was living in North Purchase, Taunton, in 1713 and in 1720 when he bought land there and was of Norton "east precinct" in 1722/23 when he purchased land in Easton, Bristol County.6

Land Records

March 1725/26

Isaac Leonard of Easton and his wife Mary sold their home lot with dwelling in Easton in March 1725/26 and moved to Pomfret, Connecticut.6

Land Records*

9 September 1727

Isaac Leonard of Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, sold two tracts in Easton on 9 September 1727 and Isaac "late of Easton now of Pomfret CT" sold his share in an iron mine in Easton on 4 January 1729, the deed acknowledged on 19 March 1730/31.6

In 1733 Isaac Leonard of Bridgewater claimed a grant for his father's participation in the Narragansett Expedition of 1675 during King Philip's War.1

Land Trade*

1732/33

Isaac was in Pomfret in 1732/33 when he traded land with a Joseph Leonard who is suspected by this researcher of having been either Isaac's brother JosephLeonard or Joseph's son JosephLeonard.9

(Neighbor) Land Records

9 January 1732/33

Isaac, whose land had bounded his brother Joseph's land, became a neighbor with his son Isaac Jr. when, on 9 January 1732/33 JosephLeonard of Pomfret sold to IsaacLeonardJr. of Pomfret "the farm whereon I now live" bounded by land of "my brother Isaac Leonard". The deed was witnessed by Isaac Leonard, Joseph's brother who was also Isaac Jr.'s father and neighbor.8

Family

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 18, Isaac Leonard, pages 23-24. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64, indicating her maiden name as "Gurney", although with some uncertainty.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Bailey, pages 107-108. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 66, Hannah Leonard, pages 64-65.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 68, Joseph Leonard, pages 65-66.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64, identifying the Joseph in the trade as only "a Joseph Leonard". This researcher has taken the liberty of suggesting Joseph and Isaac Leonard were brothers or that Joseph was the son of Isaac's brother Joseph.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64, noting that "Worcester shire in York government" has not been surely located though Westchester, New York has been suggested.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64, noting that listed as inhabitants of Pomfret, Connecticut in 1731 were Isaac Leonard Sr. and Jr., David Leonard and Thomas Leonard.

On 9 January 1732/33 Isaac Leonard Jr. of Pomfret purchased from his uncle JosephLeonard of Pomfret "the farm whereon I now live" bounded by land of "my brother IsaacLeonard". The deed was witnessed by IsaacLeonard, Joseph's brother who was also Isaac Jr.'s father and neighbor.3

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 65, Isaac Leonard, pages 63-64, noting that listed as inhabitants of Pomfret, Connecticut in 1731 were Isaac Leonard Sr. and Jr., David Leonard and Thomas Leonard.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 68, Joseph Leonard, pages 65-66.

Whether or not Jacob married before his marriage to Susanna King is not known and the question is answered as "unlikely" in the Chilton Mayflower source. The Leonard Memorial source stated it was "supposed" he married first PhebeChandler about the time he came of age and possibly in Weymouth. The Mayflower source also discounted the birth of a son Joseph to the first marriage stating that Jacob's will did not mention a son Joseph even though the purported son was living and having physical problems. The source further noted it as "much more likely he is the known son" of Jacob's brother John Leonard.4,5,6

Jacob Leonard of Hingham purchased land in Bridgewater from NathanielAllen of Bridgewater in 1713. The Mayflower source described the deed as "worn" and reported the grantor's name as Nathan rather than Nathaniel. A review of the deed itself, on microfilm, confirms his name as Nathaniel.4,8

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 4, Sarah Chandler, pages 8-9. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 17, Jacob Leonard, pages 17-18.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 17, Jacob Leonard, pages 22-23.

[S1139] Manning Leonard, Memorial: Genealogical, Historical, and Biographical, of Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and some of his descendants, downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Southbridge, Massachusetts: Manning Leonard, 1896), #4., Jacob Leonard (Solomon), pages 38-43, identifying Jacob's first wife as a supposed daughter of Roger Chandler, one of the "three sisters". Hereinafter cited as Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater.

Jacob's father, JacobLeonard, wrote a will dated 14 December 1716 in Bridgewater naming his son Jacob Leonard and identifying SusannaLeonard, his "current wife", as Jacob's mother and the mother of the other six children mentioned in his will.4

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 17, Jacob Leonard, pages 22-23. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

Family

Citations

[S1179] Fanny Leonard Koster, Annals of the Leonard Family, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979, 1980. Salt Lake City, Utah: microreproduction of original published in New York by C.H. Koster, 1911), page 3. Hereinafter cited as Leonard Family Annals.

Land records in Bristol County indicate that James was identified there as James Leonard 4th.5

Land Records*

3 December 1750

On 3 December 1750, James Leonard 4th "so called" of Taunton, cordwainer, made a sub-lease agreement with his parents WilliamLeonard, also a cordwainer of Taunton, and SarahLeonard for property his father had leased almost eleven years earlier, for a period of 20 years, from ZebulonField of Taunton and his first wife AnneField. The sub-lease restated the original lease's expiration date of 23 February 1759 and described the property as a certain parcel of land meadow upland lying on the easterly side of the Mill River in Taunton and southerly and east from the land of EphraimWetherell, then south from EdwardAdams's and west of the land of AbielWilliams, then northerly exclusive from his meadow fence where it then stood and that had been JosephWilliams'. The deed instructed that neither James Leonard nor any of the neighbors mentioned were to make use of any timber growing or lying on the land by cutting or carting it off the land in any shape or form whatsoever nor cause it to be done and included similar instructions regarding dung and stones. The deed further instructed that no timber or wood was to be cast upon the land to die or rest useless. James was, however, to have free liberty to timber and stone for fencing and building a house or barn upon the land, except that the house where William lived was to be left for his use with full liberty to pass to and from his house to cut fire wood for his own use during the time of the lease. The indenture stated that if William were to move out before the expiration of the lease agreement, then James was to improve the house. The agreement was recorded in Bristol County on 13 December 1750.5

Family

Citations

[S471] Anna Chesebrough Wildey, Genealogy of the Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts (New York, New York: Press of T.A. Wright, 1903), Part I, Descendants of Samuel, pages 18-301. Hereinafter cited as Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

[S1120] Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Town Clerk, Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Microfilm of manuscripts filmed at the East Bridgewater Town Hall, Plymouth County, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Includes records of births, marriages, and deaths, town meeting records, records of land and property, and other miscellaneous town records: Volume 2, item# 119; on 2 microfilm reels, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater.

[S597] Bristol County (Mass.) deed records, v. 1-556, (1686-1900 and 1686-1956) index -, 1686-1956. Microreproduction of original records in the registrar's office, Taunton, Massachusetts. Includes index. Note: Part I of Volume 7, pages 1-654 of this series was found on Film# 1405193 and has been referenced separately in this project as Source# 597. Film# 465438, Book 37, pages 460-461, Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Bristol County, Massachusetts Deeds: Taunton Registry (1686-1900).

For over 200 years now, researchers are still looking for clues to the relationship between SolomonLeonard of Duxbury and Bridgewater, and the three "other" known Leonard brothers, James Leonard, HenryLeonard and PhilipLeonard. Mitchell's Bridgewater History speculated that Philip Leonard of Duxbury "might have been" a brother or son of Solomon Leonard of Duxbury and Bridgewater. Deane's Genealogical Memoir of the family of James Leonard of Taunton noted that the Reverend Dr. Peres Fobes, pastor of the Congregational Church in Raynham, prepared an account in the late 1700s of the Leonard family, particularly of its longevity, promotion to office and involvement with the manufacture of iron, that is in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, Volume III. Fobes wrote that James Leonard had "three" brothers; but, in his genealogical tree of the Leonard family, he reported on only two, Henry and Philip. He went on to speculate that, if there was a fourth brother in their family, perhaps he may not have immigrated to America, or if he came to New England, he may have been Solomon Leonard of Duxbury in 1637 and then of Bridgewater, or John Leonard of Springfield in 1639, or Rice Leonard of Rehoboth in 1644. Fobes stated he knew of no others of a proper age.4,5

Biographical Info*

1652

In 1652, brothers James Leonard and HenryLeonard settled at Taunton where they erected the first forge in Plymouth Colony. Before deciding upon Taunton, Henry was at Lynn in 1642 and James was there in 1651. They were both of Braintree in 1652, and probably earlier, before arriving in Taunton in 1652. Henry didn't remain in Taunton long, moving several more times and eventually going to New Jersey.2

Family 2

Citations

[S1140] Elisha Clarke Leonard, James Leonard of Taunton, ironmaster. In four volumes: Volume 1, 1st-5th generations, Volume 2, 6th generation, Volume 3, 7th generation, Volume 4, 8th generation. James Leonard was born in England and came to America about 1660 settling in Massachusetts where he was an ironworker. He may have worked at the iron works at Jamestown before it was destroyed. He married twice and had 4 children. Information on many of his descendants to the 8th generation is included in these volumes. Descendants live throughout the United States especially in New England. Includes index: Person number 2, pages 14 and 16-24; FHL Film# 1598012, Items 7-10, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as James Leonard of Taunton, Massachusetts, ironmaster.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 16. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, page 1 and Genealogy, page 17.

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 17. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 18. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, pages 17-18.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, page 18, noting year as 1672/73.

Family 1

Family 2

Family 3

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 18. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, pages 17-18.

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 19. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, pages 17 and 19.

Family

Citations

[S1190] Frederick Clifton Pierce, Field Genealogy: being the record of all the Field family in America, whose ancestors were in this country prior to 1700, Volume 1, downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Chicago, Illinois: Hammond Press, W.B. Conkey Company, 1901), pages 235-238. Hereinafter cited as Field Genealogy, Volume 1.

Family

Citations

[S471] Anna Chesebrough Wildey, Genealogy of the Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts (New York, New York: Press of T.A. Wright, 1903), Part I, Descendants of Samuel, pages 18-301. Hereinafter cited as Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

[S1190] Frederick Clifton Pierce, Field Genealogy: being the record of all the Field family in America, whose ancestors were in this country prior to 1700, Volume 1, downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Chicago, Illinois: Hammond Press, W.B. Conkey Company, 1901), pages 235-238. Hereinafter cited as Field Genealogy, Volume 1.

Family 3

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 17. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 53, Samuel Leonard, pages 54-55. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 69, Benjamin Leonard, pages 66-67. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 19. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, pages 17 and 19.

Citations

[S471] Anna Chesebrough Wildey, Genealogy of the Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts (New York, New York: Press of T.A. Wright, 1903), Part I, Descendants of Samuel, pages 18-301. Hereinafter cited as Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

[S1120] Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Town Clerk, Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Microfilm of manuscripts filmed at the East Bridgewater Town Hall, Plymouth County, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Includes records of births, marriages, and deaths, town meeting records, records of land and property, and other miscellaneous town records: Volume 2, item# 119; on 2 microfilm reels, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater.

On 1 May 1671, SamuelLeonard of Bridgewater confirmed that his deceased father, SolomonLeonard, had given 50 acres of land in Plymouth Colony to "my brother John Leonard". It is, believed that this represented their mother Sarah's one third share of the 150 acres that had been granted on 3 October 1665 to the three daughters of RogerChandler who, before his death, had been granted the original purchase rights.3

John's wife's maiden name has not been identified, however we do know that she was not the daughter of RogerChandler as claimed in the Leonard Memorial source. John was actually the son of Sarah Chandler and Solomon Leonard, and a grandson of RogerChandler, so it was John's mother, and not his wife, who was Roger's daughter.1,8

(2nd Son) Estate

According to the Chilton Mayflower source, in the disposition of his father's estate, John was identified as his second son and his brother Samuel as his eldest son, with an equal division among the "rest of the children". Unfortunately, the digitized version of the probate file was not legible.9,10

On 18 December 1689, John Leonard of Bridgewater sold 100 acres in Taunton to AbiahWhitman. The deed was recorded on 24 February 1695.1

Land Grant*

12 July 1692

On 12 July 1692, 10 acres of meadow at Cranberry Meadow in Taunton North Purchase was laid out to John Leonard of Bridgewater in rights of a court grant to the three daughters of RogerChandler deceased.1

The inventory on his estate was filed with the court in Plymouth County on 21 November 1699.11

Probate*

23 January 1699/0

The estate of John Leonard, late of Bridgewater, was officially opened for probate in Plymouth County on 23 January 1699/0. His widow, SarahLeonard, and their son JosephLeonard were appointed administrators of his estate.1

Estate*

30 August 1701

According to the Chilton Mayflower source, in the division of his estate, his widow Sarah was to receive her thirds and son John, the eldest son's share. Other shares were allocated to sons Joseph, Enoch, Moses and Josiah and to his daughter Sarah when she reached the age of 18. On 30 August 1701 the widow Sarah and her sons John, Joseph and Josiah signed receipts. Unfortunately, the digitized version of his probate file contained no documents outlining the division of his estate or any receipts.1,12

Research Notes*

No Plymouth County Probate or land records were found to reveal anything further regarding either the mother or the daughter Sarah.1

Family

The Chilton Mayflower source stated that another Mayflower Families book, cited as MF 2:55 and believed by this researcher to have been replaced by two updated volumes, reported that Joseph was the son of Jacob Leonard. The Chilton source noted that Joseph was not mentioned in Jacob's will and that it is much more likely he was the son of Jacob's brother John Leonard2,13

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 16, John Leonard, pages 21-22. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 4, Sarah Chandler, pages 8-9.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 16, John Leonard, pages 21-22; provides no surname for Sarah, John's wife, and further states she was not a daughter of Roger Chandler as claimed in the Leonard Memorial source.

[S1139] Manning Leonard, Memorial: Genealogical, Historical, and Biographical, of Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and some of his descendants, downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Southbridge, Massachusetts: Manning Leonard, 1896), #3., John Leonard (Solomon), pages 37-38, identifying Sarah, John's wife, as supposed to have been one of the three sisters or daughters of Roger Chandler. Hereinafter cited as Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 4, Sarah Chandler, pages 8-9, citing Plymouth County Probate# 12697 for Solomon Leonardson.

[S1184] Probate Court. Supreme Judicial Court in Boston. Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915, viewed online at www.familysearch.org. Probate estate files of Plymouth County located at Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston. The files are arranged by number then alphabetical by surname. This collection is being published as images become available and is not available on microfilm; FHL digitized version of Probate# 12697 for Solomon Leonardson; LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915.

According to the Chilton Mayflower source, in the division of his father's estate, John was to receive the eldest son's share and his mother Sarah her widow's thirds. Other shares were allocated to his brothers Joseph, Enoch, Moses and Josiah and to his sister Sarah when she reached the age of 18. On 30 August 1701 the widow Sarah and her sons John, Joseph and Josiah signed receipts. Unfortunately, the digitized version of his probate file contained no documents outlining the division of his estate or any receipts.4,5

Biographical Info*

John's share of his father's estate was the homestead in Bridgewater, which was to be held with his mother during her lifetime. After her death, by a deed dated 6 March 1709, John sold it to his brother MosesLeonard and went to live with him at Marlborough and probably continued living with him, unmarried, until his death. He was with him in Worcester as late as 25 February 1726.6,4

Citations

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S1139] Manning Leonard, Memorial: Genealogical, Historical, and Biographical, of Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and some of his descendants, downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Southbridge, Massachusetts: Manning Leonard, 1896), #3., John Leonard (Solomon), pages 37-38, stating that Mitchell's Bridgewater History had "confounded" this John Leonard with his nephew John, eldest son of his brother Josiah. Hereinafter cited as Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 16, John Leonard, pages 21-22. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S1184] Probate Court. Supreme Judicial Court in Boston. Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915, viewed online at www.familysearch.org. Probate estate files of Plymouth County located at Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston. The files are arranged by number then alphabetical by surname. This collection is being published as images become available and is not available on microfilm; FHL digitized version of Probate# 12627 for John Leonard; LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915.

Family

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 17. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 58, Josiah Leonard, pages 58-59. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

Citations

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 57, Moses Leonard, pages 57-58. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

Citations

[S471] Anna Chesebrough Wildey, Genealogy of the Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts (New York, New York: Press of T.A. Wright, 1903), Part I, Descendants of Samuel, pages 18-301. Hereinafter cited as Descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

[S1120] Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Town Clerk, Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Microfilm of manuscripts filmed at the East Bridgewater Town Hall, Plymouth County, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Includes records of births, marriages, and deaths, town meeting records, records of land and property, and other miscellaneous town records: Volume 2, item# 119; on 2 microfilm reels, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Town records 1656-1823, Bridgewater.

Family

Citations

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, Pratt, pages 288-292.

Citations

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family containing a full account of the first three generations of the family of James Leonard, who was an early settler of Taunton, MS. (Massachusetts), downloaded from the Boston Public Library EBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Boston, Massachusetts: Office of the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851), Genealogy, page 19. Hereinafter cited as The Family of James Leonard of Taunton.

[S1142] Wm. R. Deane, The Family of James Leonard of Taunton, Genealogy, pages 17 and 19.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248, descendancy stated as Joseph, John, Solomon. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, Leonard, 244-248, birth date reported as March 1713, which would have made him 8 years old at his marriage and 17 years younger than his wife.

[S836] New England Historic Genealogical Society, compiler, downloaded from Google Books, Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the Year 1850. In two Volumes: Volume I. Births and Volume II. Marriages and Deaths. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916), Volume II, Deaths, page 519 referencing P.R.106: citing a private record; copied from a record of deaths kept by Rev. Isaac Backus and his grandson, Joseph A. Backus, and now in the possession of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. The record by Joseph A. Backus is of deaths in Titicut, a parish which included parts of Bridgewater and Middleborough. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to 1850.

[S836] New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to 1850, Volume II, Deaths, page 519 referencing G.R.7: citing a gravestone record at the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 59, Joseph Leonard, pages 59-60. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

The Chilton Mayflower source stated that another Mayflower Families book, cited as MF 2:55 and believed by this researcher to have been replaced by two updated volumes, reported that Joseph was the son of Jacob Leonard. The Chilton source noted that Joseph was not mentioned in Jacob's will and that it is much more likely he was the son of Jacob's brother John Leonard1,2

The Chilton source stated that the children attributed to Joseph and Martha (Orcutt)Leonard were from the three sources identified below, and that they found no proof for them.2,7,8,9

(Son) Probate

23 January 1699/0

The estate of Joseph's father JohnLeonard, late of Bridgewater, was officially opened for probate in Plymouth County on 23 January 1699/0. Joseph and his mother, SarahLeonard, were appointed administrators of his estate.4

(Son) Estate

30 August 1701

According to the Chilton Mayflower source, in the division of his father's estate, his brother John was to receive the eldest son's share and his mother Sarah her widow's thirds. Joseph and his other siblings each received a share of the remaining. On 30 August 1701 the widow Sarah and her sons John, Joseph and Josiah signed receipts. Unfortunately, the digitized version of his probate file contained no documents outlining the division of his estate or any receipts.4,10

Court documents of Plymouth County during the March 1722/23 term show the presentment of Martha (Orcutt)Leonard, wife of Joseph Leonard of Bridgewater, who was absent from worship. "Excuse being made by her husband of her often being troubled with Convulsion fits, etc." Her case was continued to the June term.12,13

After Joseph's death, his widow MarthaLeonard sued JonathanChandler "That instantly without delay he render to said Martha her reasonable Dower." Martha was represented by DanielJohnsonEsq. of Bridgewater. Plaintiff demanded a messuage and 7 acres in Bridgewater, of which her husband was seized "during the Coverture and whereof she hath nothing (as She Saith) and the said Martha Leonard Complains that the said Jonathan Chandler hath Deforced her thereof and then and there to Shew Cause why to the said Martha Leonard her reasonable Dower as aforesaid he doth not render etc." Defendant pleaded in abatement that (1) the writ identified Joseph Leonard as "Yeoman", when he never had "the Estate to make him so", that (2) the writ did not list plaintiff's "Addition... Neither of Town or County, which is absolutely Necessary and without which She cannot be rightly known", and that (3) the writ listed defendant Jonathan Chandler as a "Yeoman, which is Wrong, for he is a Bloomer." The defendant was overruled and then pleaded that he did set off her dower to her. The Jury verdict was for the plaintiff and included her dower, 10s in damages, and costs, taxed at £2.11s.5d. The defendant appealed, with DanielJohnsonEsq. of Bridgewater and James Hovey of Plymouth as sureties. No further record.16

Probate*

No Plymouth County probate for Joseph Leonard or land records to his children were found by the Mayflower source researchers.2

Family

Citations

[S474] Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register. Note: page numbers differ slightly between publications used in our research, including FHL copy, Google Books, Boston Public Library EBooks online and our personal library reprint published by Heritage Books. (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., original publication date was 1840; reprinted for the third and fourth times in 1970 and 1975; first reprinted in 1897 by Henry T. Pratt, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; originally printed in 1840 by Kidder and Wright, Boston, Massachusetts), Leonard, pages 244-248. Hereinafter cited as History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Volume 15, James Chilton and Richard More. Note: Volume 2, Parts I and II (1975), Chilton and More, were revised and replaced in 1997 by this Volume 15, Chilton and More. (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997), Person# 59, Joseph Leonard, pages 59-60. Hereinafter cited as James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five).

[S1184] Probate Court. Supreme Judicial Court in Boston. Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915, viewed online at www.familysearch.org. Probate estate files of Plymouth County located at Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston. The files are arranged by number then alphabetical by surname. This collection is being published as images become available and is not available on microfilm; FHL digitized version of Probate# 12627 for John Leonard; LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 57, Moses Leonard, pages 57-58.

[S896] Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, James Chilton and Richard More of the Mayflower (Five), Person# 59, Joseph Leonard, pages 59-60, although stating it was Martha's excuse was that her husband Joseph was "often troubled with convulsion fits."